Four men charged over rocket launcher seizure

The Northern Irish men are accused of dissident republican terrorist offences

Photo of an improvised rocket launcher that was seized by police in Northern Ireland. Photograph: PA
Photo of an improvised rocket launcher that was seized by police in Northern Ireland. Photograph: PA

Four men have been charged in Northern Ireland with a series of dissident republican terrorist offences after police seized an improvised rocket launcher loaded with a Semtex projectile.

One of the accused, aged 22, has been charged with the attempted murder of police officers and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life in Lurgan, Co Armagh, on August 31st.

The other three, aged 22, 24 and 46, have been charged with preparation of terrorist acts, namely the targeting of a former member of the security forces in the nearby Craigavon area.

Arrests

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The men were arrested last week as officers recovered a fully prepared, explosive projectile that was ready for deployment.

Police said the projectile, which has since been made safe, was an improvised explosive device designed to penetrate armour-plating when fired at relatively close range from a makeshift launcher.

All four accused will appear at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.